Iron Deficiency Anaemia

[Natje]

I found out a few months ago that my Iron level was 4.4 and Ferritin 13. It seems my body does not absorb iron. After a month of battling with oral iron tablets, the Dr put me onto a series of Iron Infusions. They raised my Iron levels to 13.7 and Ferritin to 80!! That was 6 weeks ago. I went for a follow up bloodtest today and it showed that my Iron had already dropped to 8.6. This seems like quite a massive drop in such a short time. I live in the Middle East so medical care can be hit or miss. The doctor told me to eat red meat 4x a week and come back in a month to retest. Does this happen to others with Iron Deficiency Anaemia? If so - how many infusions do you have a year?

Hi Natje, I don't think iron infusions are something that happens in the U.K. Though I maybe totally wrong.

I was always on iron tablets when pregnant and they never agreed with me. This was some time ago.

Back in March my haemoglobin went down to 50 (I know different numbers to yours) and I had to get a blood transfusion. Due to this I was put on an iron regime (think this is what my doctor calls it). So I take folic acid, asorbic acid (vitamin C) and iron tables. I take the vitamin c tablet and iron tablets 3 times a day. I have found that I am fine this time round on the iron tablets. Especially considering I am taking them 3 times a day. I think the difference has been taking the vitamin C tablet at the same time.

Could you possibly ask your doctor if you could try the vitamin C tablet alongside the iron tablets (I think I've been given the vitamin C as it is suppose to help absorption of iron). Though as I have said it has really helped stop me feeling so sickly on them and no constipation on them.

My iron levels have been increasing slowly. They have never went down. When you are eating foods rich in iron are you avoiding drinks with tannins in them?

I would go back to your doctor and ask him if there are any other iron tablets you can take. Your iron levels should definitely not be getting lower. You don't want to end up at blood transfusion levels.

You need to fix your absorbtion issues. I suggest you get the help of a nutritional therapist. They do great work with digestion issues.

Thanks for your responses. I'm afraid I really can't take iron tablets - they rip my stomach to shreds and make daily life unmanageable. I have 3 kids and need to be able to function. I'm not anaemic so my Hemoglobin levels are actually fine - it my iron and iron stores (ferritin) that tare low. I have read many posts on here of people getting iron transfusions in the UK so I don't think it's unusual. It will be hard finding a qualified nutritionist where I am ...

Natje a lot of nutritional therapist can do over the phone consultations or Skype.

Check out the local governing body for registered therapists to find a fully qualified one.